Bringing the summer indoors (what's been the inspiration?)

Whatever the weather outside (and it's been mainly glorious until now), the summer is a great time to spruce up your home. And with lots of trends set for this season, we thought we'd take a look at what has been inspiring people.

Summer is a season of feeling good about most things in life. It's bright. It's positive. It's all about the feel-good. Summer naturally creates a lot of positivity, probably a result of being outdoors, in whatever guise. A holiday abroad is as exciting as a staycation. But as these only cover a week or two of the long summer months, bringing the sunshine into your home is a great way of feeling that summer vibe for longer.

So what were the predicted trends for this year's summer decor?

Colour confident

The amazing colour palette has to be a primary mention. Who knew it could get as exciting as basing your theme around ice cream colours. The vibrant yet muted range of blues, pinks, greens and yellows has been adopted by many, for accessories alone if not for feature walls and furniture mainstays too.

This colour palette can be toned up or down to individual taste and carries the bonus that all colours work as well on their own or combined with any other. They give the instant feeling of nostalgic days on the beach, surrounded by painted beach huts and stripy parasols. They're fun and funky and can add a fresh touch to any room.

Pattern savvy

The geometric look has continued its reign. Over the summer months its popularity has grown from simple cushions and blankets to being centre stage for art, tiles and wallpaper too. The sharp lines of this style make it a striking look and when teamed with the bold colours that make 'geometric' work, it's a sure-fire winner for standout interiors.

Even better, geometric designs have been combined with other seasonal patterns, such as pretty florals, to provide a sensational finish. The key is to restrict your overall room design to just a few staple colours so that the patterns chosen can complement each other well.

Foliage happy

Bringing the outdoors in, with luscious green plants, has brought an element of living vibrancy to many houses this summer. There's lots of little nooks and crannies (that we don't even realise we have) to perfectly display the humble houseplant. And it's a trend that's really taken off.

The rule is suggesting the more the merrier with the scope to combine flowering prettiness with leafy green wonders. Go for standout and make sure you choose some highlight pieces, they really can bring a quiet corner or retiring shelf to life. And then there's the option to fully embrace the foliage by teaming it with an element of green luxury. Accentuate the vibrancy with a charming armchair or stunning rug.

Tropical paradise

It is impossible for anybody to have missed the flood of flamingos that have arrived this summer. Not to mention the pineapples, palm trees and sunsets. There is no doubt that these have ruled the summer look for fabrics, cushions and accessories and are guaranteed to achieve that crazy summer feel.

Their stunning beauty has broad appeal and the tropical look, combined with bright blues and pinks, has been a winner for all age ranges. They work perfectly both indoors and out, creating a wonderful feeling of summer paradise for lounge room living or al fresco dining. Teamed with patterns of tropical leaves, this style works to combine summer fun with the love for all things plants.

Glittering gold

The metallic that has lasted the test of time; this summer has been all about the gold. It's sophisticated and fun all at the same time and has been shown to work well with so many colours and patterns. Its versatility, when combined with all other trends, make it more than capable of achieving that warm sunshine finish.

And accessorising with gold couldn't be easier. Bring it into any room with stunning finishing touches such as stylish round mirrors, prominent lamp bases and soft velvety cushions. Gold hasn't always been everyone's colour of choice, but it sure has made its way up the rankings this summer.

So, the options to bring the summer indoors have been endless, and exciting. With so much to go at in terms of texture, colour and patterns, there will have been some amazing re-styles over the summer. The inspiration has been over-whelming and the options to succeed endless. There's no doubt that with at least one of these trends in place, your house will be well on its way to a happy summer vibe.